Football: Strathmore Spartans Preview

The Strathmore Spartans are the defending Central Sequoia League and Central Section Division VI champions.
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Strathmore's Joseph Garcia attempts to shed a tackle against Horizon Christian Academy in a CIF Regional Football Championship Bowl Game on Saturday, December 10, 2016. Strathmore is the first Tulare County team to host a CIF Regional Championship Bowl Game.(Photo: Ron Holman)

That's quite a laundry list of accomplishments, but what may set Strathmore apart from other section teams in its division, is the fact that the team returns the majority of last year's starters, including 2,000-yard star rusher Joseph Garcia.

Despite the hype, longtime Spartans head coach Jeromy Blackwell, who is entering his 17th season, keeps it relatively simple.

"Based off of last season, the community's expectations and probably within the coaching profession, expectations are really high," Blackwell said. "I swear to you, though, all we're going to talk about is 1-0 football because 1-0 is all that matters. Us trying to win one play, one assignment, one situation at a time."

Strathmore Head Football Coach Jeromy Blackwell raises the Southern Regional Division 6-A championship trophy after their victory over Horizon Christian Academy in a CIF Regional Football Championship Bowl Game on Saturday, December 10, 2016. Strathmore is the first Tulare County team to host a CIF Regional Championship Bowl Game.(Photo: Ron Holman)

A mindset

Is the 1-0 approach a clichè?

Probably not.

Just ask the Spartans.

"We're not the same football team that we were," junior lineman Jadon Guire said. "We don't know if we're better or worst yet. We want to get to the state game, obviously, and win this time, finish, but we're just going to take it one game at a time. We're all out here putting in work. We all go by the same philosophy. We're just here going one play at a time, so when everyone buys in, everything works out."

That 1-0 is a mindset. Team wide.

When asked about the mantra, senior quarterback Nick Salas shared similar sentiments as Guire.

"We have to start small," Salas said. "You have to work your way up. You have to take baby steps — one situation, one play, one game at a time. You can't go into one game and overlook that game and have already started planning for the next. That's not what we do here. We just take it one game at a time. One play at a time. One situation at a time."

That approach has been successful for Blackwell and his teams during his tenure.

The Spartans have only missed the postseason once this decade (2014).

Can the Spartans build off last season's success?

"The goal is always to top ourselves, but we're not focused on winning a state title," Salas said. "We're trying to be the best team that we can be."

Strathmore defenders corral a Horizon Christian Academy ballcarrier during a CIF Regional Football Championship Bowl Game on Saturday, December 10, 2016.(Photo: Ron Holman)

Leading the charge

Garcia, who has sharpened his 5-foot-10 frame to a leaner 180 pounds, is the returning leading rusher in Tulare County from last season.

His numbers in 14 games:

2,345 rushing yards

46 total touchdowns

11 games of 100 yards rushing or more

Four games of 200 yards rushing or more

7.3 yards per carry

Will Garcia match or eclipse those numbers in Blackwell's run-first, pro-style offense?

"I think Joseph gets fewer carries, more yards," Blackwell said.

"He's a great kid. He works really hard. He doesn't complain about anything, ever."

In the regional bowl game, Garcia set a single-game school record by scoring seven TDs. He also erupted for a video-game like 420 rushing yards.

"That guy's such an electrifying player," Salas said. "I know that whenever I put the ball in his hands, he's going to do big things because he runs with no fear. He just puts his foot in the ground. I know he's just going to try to run through anybody that's in his way, and I know he'll eventually score."

Strathmore junior running back Joseph Garcia rumbles for a touchdown in a CIF Regional Football Championship Bowl Game on Saturday, December 10, 2016. Garcia is the 2016 Times-Delta/Advance-Register Bob Mathias Award Winner.(Photo: Ron Holman)

Anchoring the trenches up front is Guire, a guard.

Blackwell believes Guire has the potential to develop into a quality college football recruit.

Guire has slimmed down a bit, now measuring in at about 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds.

"If there's a D-I player on the football team, it's Jadon Guire," Blackwell said. "That guy can play football. He's a rock."

Two other key returners are linebackers Andres Lara and Damian Valencia.

Lara was a first-team All-ESL selection after leading the Spartans with 15 sacks.

Valencia totaled a team-high 81 tackles.

Strathmore, who is returning seven defensive starters, allowed just 13.6 points per game last year while posting five shutouts.

The Spartans open the season on the road on Aug. 25 at Farmersville.

"We're going to take everybody's best shot," Blackwell said. "We're never going to get anybody's 'B' game. It's always someone's 'A' game. We're going to have to rise to the challenge and bring our 'A' game every time."